Self-wringing and detachable mop head and refill construction



June ll, 1957 c. A. CHANNELL 2,794,997

SELF-WRINGING AND DETACHABLE MOP HEAD AND REFILL CONSTRUCTION Filed may 1o, 195o z-sneetS-sneet 1- @Mr/@5 Ar'fhur bannen by ggg;

June 1l, 1957 c. A. CHANNELL 2,794,997

ASEILlF-WRUIGING'. AND DETACHABLE MOP HEAD AND REFILL CONSTRUCTION Filed llay 10, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ljI/E :UZUT

vw/@3 Arnulf Channezz nited tts SELF-WRINGING AND DETACHABLEMOP HEAD AND REFILL CONSTRUCTION Charles Arthur Channell, Wilmette, lll., assignor to Joseph H. Trindl, Chicago, Ill. Application May 1o, 195o, serial No. l161,041

This invention relates `to improvements in'. a mop and refill construction, and more particularly Ato a mop of the character utilized for household purposes as a scrubbing, cleaning, or polishing mop either in a wet or substantially dry condition, and wherein the element contacting the oor or other surface to be cleaned or polished is readily replaceable when worn, although'the invention mayhave j other uses and purposes as will'be apparent .to one skilled in the art.

Theinstant invention is an improvement upon the ,zinvention disclosed, described, and claimed inmy copendjing application entitled Mop and Rell Therefor, filed January 14, 1950, Serial No. 138,585, now Patent No. v2,761,161, issued September 4, 195.6.

v'In-the past, many and various types of mops embodying'a sponge-like element, such .as cellulose sponge, com- "monly'r'eferred to as a rell, .that could be replaced have y'been'developed These formerly known structures, however, in every instance of which I am aware, failed to provide manytof the desiderata of an article ofthis character. For example, devices of this character heretofore known wereobjectionably heavy both from the standpoint of fatigue to the user and shipping cost to the manufacturer, "-Were not provided with full and complete protecting means "to'prevent injury to furniture, baseboards, and the like, 'were not suiciently simple to manipulate, and notdesir- *ably economical'to manufacture. Further, these formerly were made in the self-wringing type heretofore, .that is A-where vportions ofthe mop could be relatively Vpivoted .to

'compresswater from the sponge-like element, the strucfture was such l"that dirt was squeezed into the sponge-like element rather than pressed outwardly therefrom.

light in weight, andso constructed as to protect baseboards, furniture, sash frames, and the like, to such'an With the 'foregoing in mind, it is an important object ofthe 'instant invention to provide a mop that in extremely extent 'that itis impossible to bring metal portions of the mop into contact with such elements during a normal usage of the mop.

YIt-is 'also an `object of this invention to provide amop inwhich1the head sections are lpivotal relatively yto each other to compress them and effect avwringing out tof the V`sponge-like element, but which head sections are substan- -.tially'flatandin the same plane'when the'mop is in use.

Another important object of the invention resides in the provision of a self-wringing mop embodying relatively-piv- `otal elements designed to compress the sponge-like mem- 'berlthe'rebetweem the construction being such that `the .pressure begins on the top central section of the spongelikeelement and gradually increases outwardly, so that vlthe Vdirt'is washed Vout of the sponge-like element by the expelled liquid.

"Stillanother important feature of this invention resides in the provisioncf a mop having a squeegee element finga 1pair of lmetallic bars or strips at the .upper end 2,794,997 Patented June 11, 1957 projecting therefrom, so vthat when the mop isused for washingV windows and the like, the single mop structure vmay fully complete the entire operation of cleansing the window.

It is also a feature of this invention to provide a mop construction provided with a squeegee element substantially in theplaue of the mop head, and projecting forwardly of the mop so 'that it performs the double function of protecting furniture, baseboards, and 'the like, as well as operating as a squeegee onthe oor or windows whenever desired.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a self-wringing mop construction including a spongelike element, which element carries a pair of metallic bars at the top thereof by 'means of which the element is securedto pivo'tal'head members in a simple and easy manlner permitting ready removal and `replacement of the sponge-like element.

A further object of the invention resides in the. provisionof a mop embodying a sponge-'like element carrythereof, Ysuch'bars or strips being disposed between the layers of adouble cover ontop of the'sponge-like element.

StillV another feature of the invention resides in the provision of a household mop of the self-wringing type em- 'bodyingepivotally connected head sections with a'handle socket connected torone of 'the sections, and a wringing leverl connected to `the other of the sections.

It is also a feature ofthe invention to provide a house- "holdv mop of the self-wringing type, having areadily reparts, and which mop is extremely pleasing in vappearance and economical to'manufacture.

While some of the more salient features, characteristics rand advantages of theinstant invention have been above pointed out, others will become apparent from thefollowing disclosures, taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Y Figure 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of a mop embodying principles of the instant invention, showing the mop stick broken away;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially as indicated by the line lI-'II of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the structure of Fig. l;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view similar to Fig. 3, but illustrating the wringing of the sponge-like element;

Figure 5 is a top plan view similar in character to Pig. 1, but illustrating a slightly different form of construction;

Figure' is an enlarged fragmentary transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially as indicated by the line VI-VI of Fig. 5; and

Figure 7 is a view similar in character toFig. 4, but illustrating the wringing of the sponge-like element of the structure of Figs. 5 and 6.

As shown on the drawings:

In that illustrated embodiment of the instant invention seen in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, there is shown a mop structure including a head embodying pivotally connected sections. These sections include a front metallic plate 1 and a rear metallic plate 2, both being similar in size and construction. The front plate has rearwardly projecting loops 3 thereon while the rear plate has a similar number of forwardly projecting loops 4 thereon, all of which loops engage around a pivot pin 5. As seen clearly in Fig. l, there is a definite space 6 between the confronting edges of the plates 1 and Z, which space is important in the proper wringing of the.spongelike element associated with the mop, as will more fully later appearfherein. v

3 A handle socket` 7 is connected to the rear plate 2 by spot welding or in an equivalent manner as indicated at 8, andtthis socket, of course, receives the usual mop-stick 9. The socket 7 is also provided with a resilient gripping element 10 to receive an intermediate Vportion of an angular lever 11, the front end of the lever being turned down and welded. or equivalently secured to the front plate 1.

With reference more particularly to Fig. 2, it will be seen ythat an angle member 12 of the same length as the front plate 1 is disposed beneath the outer margin of that plate, this angle memberbeing riveted `to the plate at a plurality of places as indicated at 13, to firmly hold therebetween a rubber strip 14. From the showing in Fig. 1 it willbe seen that this rubber strip 14 projects forwardlybeyond the plate, and also projects beyond each end of `the plate. Accordingly, this strip performs the dual function of preventing contact of the plate with furniture, baseboards, and the like, during use of the mop, and at the same time will operate very efficiently as a squeegee when so needed. A similar'angular strip 15 is riveted to the rear margin of the head plate 2 as indicated at 16, to hold therebetween a rubber strip 17 identical to the strip 14. The rubber strip 17however, is not in position to function as a squeegee, but does effectively operate as a bumper to prevent contact of the rear plate 2 with objects of furniture, baseboards; and the like, especially upon a back stroke of the rnop in tight corners and adjacent furniture legs.

A liquid absorbent sponge-like element 1S for contact with the surface to be cleansed, and commonly referred toas a rell, is constructed for ready attachment to and removal from the above described head. This rell 18 is preferably sponge-like in character and may very satisfactorily be made of cellulose sponge material. In the illustrated instance it is of substantially the shape of a rectangular block, but other shapes may be provided if so desired. The element may be used wet for scrubbing or washing, and substantially dry or damp for general cleaning or polishing purposes.

Over the top of the refill 18 is a double cover including a lower fabric sheet 19, such as a light canvas, glued or cemented throughout its undersurface to the upper surface of the refill, and a similar upper fabric member 20. Between these two members are spaced metallic strips 21 and 22, the undersurfaces of the strips being glued to the lower fabric sheet 19 and the upper surface of the strips being glued to the upper fabric sheet 20 which is also glued to the lower fabric sheet around and between the strips. Thus, the strips are firmly held in position and will not become loosened during use of the mop. The metallic strips 21 and 22 are preferably of substantially the same length or a trifie shorter than the head plates 1 and 2, and it will be noted from the showing in Figs. l, 2 and 3 that the fabric layers 19 and 20 on top of the refill extend beyond the ends of the strips, and the refill together with its fabric covering extends beyond the ends of the head plates 1 and 2. Thus, all metal parts are spaced inwardly from the sponge-like refill at the end and from the rubber strips 14 and 17 at the sides, so there is no possibility of the metal contacting any furniture, baseboards, sash frames, or the like when the mop is in use.

The metallic strips 21 and 22 are provided each with one or more bolts 23 and 24, respectively, extending upwardly therefrom through the top fabric layer 20, and these bolts may be engaged by suitable wing nuts 25 and 26 outside the respective head plates 1 and 2, these head plates being suitably apcrturcd to accommodate the Shanks of the bolts. lt is a simple expedient, therefore, to release the wing nuts 25 and 26, and the entire refill may be pulled downwardly and separated from the mop head. Justas easily by a reverse process the refill may be attached to the mop head.

When in use, the mop is in substantially the position seen in Figs. 2. and 3, and the lever 11 is engaged in the Cil resilient holder 10 carried by the handle socket 7. Assuming that the mop has been used for scrubbing purposes, and it is desired to wring out the refill 18, it is a simple expedient to hold the mop stick 9 or socket 7 in one hand, and move the lever 11 outwardly away from the socket as indicated in Fig. 4. This process causes the sponge-like element 18 to be squeezed between the head plates 1 and 2, and the depending fianges on the angle members 12 and 15 aid materially in effecting a positive squeeze of the refill. Owing to the space 6 between the head plates 1 and 2, and owing to the relatively wide separation of the metallic strips 21 and 22 carried by the refill, the squeezing will start in the upper central portion of the refill element and a part of this element will be forced upwardly into the space between the head plates as clearly seen in Fig. 4. During the squeezing process, the initial squeezing having started in the upper central region of the refill, the action continues outwardly toward the lower face of the refill until the refill is substantially folded lengthwise with a deep groove 27 in the bottom face thereof. Thus, when the squeezing acting from the top toward the bottom of the refill, the accumulated dirt is effectively washed out of the refill along with the uid being pressed out by the squeezing action. The dirt is not squeezed back into the refill as is the case with many formerly known mops of the self-wringing type, but the dirt must flow out along with the expelled liquid.

When the mop is used for washing windows or the like, it is a simple expedient to use the refill for cleansing the glass, and then reverse the mop in position, and squeegee the wet window pane with the rubber element 14. Thus, it will be seen that the mop may be used for the entire widow cleaning operation, and no other apparatus is necessary. Obviously, if water is accumulated on the oor in some areas, itis a simple expedient to turn over the mop, and utilize the squeegee to move the water to a desired location for removal.

It will be at once apparent that the mop is simple in construction, and with exposed metallic parts chromium plated or otherwise treated, the entire mop is very pleasn ing to the eye. Further, due to the relatively few metal parts and the small size of these metal parts, the entire mop is extremely light in weight thus saving transportation cost and eliminating fatigue to the user. It will also be noted especially from the showing in Figs. 2 and 3, that when the mop is in use the head plates 1 and 2 are substantially in the same plane with each other so that the mop in effect has a flat top.

In Figs. 5, 6 and 7 I have illustrated a slightly different form of construction, which is even more pleasing in appearance than the form previously described. In this form, the same head construction and the same refill construction are embodied. However, in this instance, a handle socket member 28 is spot welded or equivalently secured to the front head plate 1 as indicated at 29 in Fig. 5. This socket 28 may of course receive the customary mop stick 9. A wringing lever 3i), akin to the lever 11 above described, is welded or equivalently secured to the rear head plate 2, and when the head plates are in the same plane with each other, that is positioned for use with the mop, this lever is engaged in a resilient holding clip 31 attached to the underside of the socket member 28. Thus, when the mop is in use the wringing lever 30 is completely concealed by the mop stick and socket member.

In this case, when it is desired to wring out the refill element 18, it is a simple expedient to hold the socket 2S of the mop stick 9 in the right hand, and press downwardly upon the lever 3f) with the left hand as indicated Y in Fig. 7, and the resultant wringing action will be substantially as described above in connection with Fig. 4, the dirt being entirely washed out of the refill along with the expelled liquid. Y

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a mop, a head including a pair of similar plates hingedly connected, a handle socket attached to one of said plates, a lever attached to the other of said plates, an angle-strip secured to each of said plates beneath the outer margin thereof, a resilient strip held between each angle-strip and the respective plate margin and extending beyond the ends of the head to act as bumpers, and a spongy element carried by said head and engaged by the depending flanges of said angle-strips when said plates are pivoted to compress said element.

2. In a mop, a head including a pair of at plates hingedly :connected together and lying in substantially the same plane when the mop =is in use, a spongy element, a pair of at metal strips carried by said element for disposition one beneath each of said plates, securing means removably connecting each said strip with the respective plate, and a double-layer fabric cover on said element,

said strips being disposed between the layers of said cover.

3. In a mop, a head, an elongated spongy cleaning element, a ilexible member secured to the top face of said element, a second flexible member secured to the top face of the rst member, a pair of laterally spaced at metallic strips held between said members, and securing means carried by said strips and extending through said second member for attachment to said head.

4. A mop rell element including an elongated block of spongy material, a flexible cover cemented to the upper References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 603,999 Ball'am May l0, 1898 1,002,268 Hayden Sept. 5, 1911 2,044,075 Jelenfy June 16, 1936 2,199,147 Bates Apr. 30, 1940 2,251,384 Thomas Aug. 5, 1941 2,334,796 Steinmetz et al Nov. 23, 1943 2,354,969 Trindl et al. Aug. 1, 1944 2,449,281 Dalton Sept. 14, 1948 2,486,102 Berndsen Oct. 25, 1949 2,632,192 Mallory Mar. 24, 1953 2,641,787 Vosbikian et al. June 16, 1953 2,678,458 Vosbikian et al. May 18, 1954 2,683,458 Bell May 18, 1954 2,733,467 Garro Feb. 7, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 396,469 Great Britain Aug. 10, 1933 462,390 Canada Jan. 10, 1950 494,899 Belgium Apr. 29, 1950 617,197 Germany Aug. 14, 1935 807,925 France Ian. 25, 1937 

